Friday, November 19, 2010

Potato Gratin (Pommes Dauphinois) & Meeting FFWD Friends

The 7th recipe for FFWD is Potato Gratin (Pommes Dauphinois). Although I have often made the base recipe, this was the first time I done it in the more classic way with garlic and a little Gruyere. Very very good. We had it with broccolini and sautéed blackfish which was a perfect meal!

Dorie says that this is an ideal recipe for adding things or varying the cheese and herbs...sounds good for using up leftover vegetables.

Other similar recipes that my family loves:

1). Horseradish Potatoes (from a Bobby Flay recipe): no garlic or Gruyere; add horseradish to each layer (at least 1 cup total), end with a layer of cream, cover if need.

2). Scalloped Potatoes (my grandmother’s recipe): no garlic or Gruyere; add grated cheese to each layer and on the top. For 5 pounds of russet potatoes, use 3/4 pound cheese (cheddar & Colby is a good mix because the Colby melts well), salt, pepper, and 5 cups of heavy cream.Use a 9” x 13” x 2” dish and bake for 1 1/4 hours, covering part of the time. I’ve always wanted to add some roasted chiles to this - maybe next time!

A highlight for me in making this last night was using my new food processor (my first one!) to mince the garlic & slice the potatoes. I got the machine a week ago & am pretty thrilled with it. It even minced the garlic pretty well. No more mandoline for slicing potatoes!

Dorie’s talk was very entertaining and she was so friendly and charming to everyone. And even though the other bloggers have known each other for a while, they warmly welcomed me into their circle. Thank you! It was a fun evening and I am so glad I went!

It was great to meet you too! I'm so glad that Dorie connected us. Did you know that we were all meeting each other in person for the first time? Instant connection!

Congrats on your first food processor! I'm so used to having mine around that I would probably crack up if I had to do without it. I'm even carting it down to Connecticut next week just in case I need it in my mom's kitchen.

I find myself collecting a few new tools as I cook Dorie's and other recipes...part of the kitchen fun! And then I just want to cook more and more. Congrats on your processor. I could not live without mine!

How wonderful you got to meet Dorie and got your book signed and met the other bloggers as well! :) I'm curious about your food processor, it's small enough to mince garlic yet big enough to slice potatoes?

KY, my processor has 3 different-sized bowls (14, 11, and 4 1/2 cups) - I did chop a whole head at once, though. The mince was a bit uneven so I scraped the sides down & chopped again. Not perfect & not uniformly minced but good enough! I have the Cuisinart. Am going use it to try tart dough this week - I want to make Dorie's Gorgonzola Apple Quiche.

Ur potato gratin looks perfect and i loveeeee how delicious it is too!!I also have a request for u , i really need votes and u have to go the page below and vite for number 21 , my blushing Snicker Doodles!

Location http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2010/11/vanilla-salted-caramel-hot-chocolate.htmlCreated By BRIGHT MORNING STARMore Info Hi ,please eeee ,pinky promise pleaseee ,help mee....and tell ur frens about this too:-)))and post on ur wall too , if u can :-),voting ends in a day or 2!Can u please take a moment or 2 and vote for me , i so muc want to win this and have acess only to 3 connections and only 1 vote is allowed per computer:-(here are the details will be so gratefull for this!!

......Mia Summer Sunday RoseSayshullo to all her sunshine Pals....please vote for meHi happy sunshinePal , im here today coz i need ur help, ur votes to win a hamper @holiday exchange and if u wanna join in next week ,lemme know and iwill vote for u too!!!I have loved having u over at my blog and would love and be grateful for ur support now,...if i make it it will only be coz of u guys!

I am always happy when people get to meet the writers and chefs who inspire them. Good for you!This gratin was a favorite in my house,and I'll certainly make it again and again (the pounding rain in SoCal is the perfect reason for comfort food:)I covet a food processor so much! Maybe Santa will think I was good enough to drop one down my chimney:D

Oh goodness, I still owe you the photos from the night with Dorie, don't I? I'll email you later tonight, I promise! Your gratin looks wonderful. This recipe would be a huge hit with my husband so I think I'll try it soon :)

About Me

I started this blog to post my participation in the French Fridays with Dorie (FFWD) online cooking group (and to post an occasional recipe :)). Starting October 1, 2010, the FFWD group has been making one recipe each week from Dorie Greenspan's wonderful cookbook, "Around My French Table".